Ruahine Dress Circle Scenic Reserve

Tucked away on a side road off Ruahine Road in the northern Manawatu is an amazing picnic and swimming spot, which has been a well-known local secret for over 100 years.

About

This area has been a popular swimming and picnic spot for over 100 years. Early settlers named this reserve from the fact that when they saw the surrounding cliffs; they were reminded of the dress circle in an opera house. There is a permanent waterfall from a side stream by the swimming hole, and a little further down stream another deeper and wider waterfall can be seen. Walking upstream you will see the beautiful formations of the soft grey papa rock, which almost resembles Swiss cheese with it’s many holes.